Origins and the Founders’ Vision – The Iron Pony Motorsports Empire Story
Iron Pony Motorsports, headquartered in Westerville Ohio was established by Chris Jones and Tammy Jones. Not only has Iron Pony become a landmark in Ohio’s motorcycle landscape, but it has also become a destination stop for riders all over the country passing through. The story of Iron Pony began in 1975, when Chris’s father opened his first small retail space within his auto parts store in Columbus, Ohio. In the late 1980’s Chris and Tammy had a vision that was clear from the start: to create a motorcycle retailer that would serve as a complete resource for riders, providing not just equipment and accessories but also a community hub for motorcycle enthusiasts.
Expansion and Evolution
Over the years, Iron Pony has undergone significant growth. By the 1990s, it had outgrown its initial location and moved to a closed Super K-Mart location in Westerville, Ohio. This new space, which now encompasses over 133,000 square feet, allowed Iron Pony to stock an unparalleled range of products and to include a state-of-the-art service center. This flagship location, the Iron Pony Motorsports Superstore, is situated at 5436 Westerville Rd, in Westerville, Ohio. Their expansion occurred both through good times and bad. Iron Pony continued to expand as the years passed by.
In 2001, another milestone was achieved when Iron Pony launched its online store, (https://www.ironpony.com/ ) widening its reach to customers nationwide and internationally. This digital expansion was crucial in solidifying Iron Pony’s reputation as a leader in the motorcycle-motorsports retail sector.
Pony Powersports Dealerships
Under the Pony Powersports banner, Iron Pony Motorsports has established several dealerships across Ohio, each offering new and pre-owned vehicles, including motorcycles, scooters, ATVs, side-by-sides, UTVs, and auto cycles. These dealerships are authorized dealers for renowned brands such as Aprilia, Beta, Can-Am, Ducati, Honda, Indian, Kawasaki, Piaggio, Piranha, Polaris, Slingshot, Suzuki, Triumph, Vespa, Vanderhall, and Yamaha.
Community Engagement
Under the guidance of Chris and Tammy, Iron Pony has not only been a huge commercial success but has also made substantial impacts on the local and national motorcycle communities. The store regularly hosts motorcycle safety courses, seasonal riding events, and charity rides that support various causes.
These accolades reflect the store’s commitment to excellence in both customer service and community involvement.
Industry Recognition and Awards
The company’s dedication to excellence has not gone unnoticed. In 2011, Iron Pony Motorsports was named the number one motorcycle dealer in the U.S. by Dealernews Magazine, highlighting its prominence in the industry.
In summary, Iron Pony Motorsports has established itself as a premier destination for powersports enthusiasts in Ohio and beyond. With its expansive superstore, multiple dealerships, comprehensive online presence, and commitment to customer service and community engagement, it continues to be a leader in the powersports industry.
Legacy and Future Directions
Today, Iron Pony Motorsports remains a family-operated business, with Chris and Tammy Jones at the helm and their son Derek Jones taking on increasing responsibility in the day-to-day operations. They continue to innovate and adapt to the changing dynamics of retail and motorcycle technology, ensuring that Iron Pony stays at the cutting edge of the industry.
Iron Pony Motorsports is deeply rooted in the local community, often hosting events and participating in charitable activities. For instance, the company has organized events like the “Ride For Rhinos,” demonstrating its commitment to social responsibility and community involvement.
As they look to the future, the Jones family plans to keep expanding their product offerings and enhancing their online presence to meet the evolving needs of modern riders. With a solid foundation and a clear vision, Iron Pony Motorsports is set to ride into the future as a continued leader in the motorcycle retail space.
From its modest beginnings to its current status as a beacon for the motorcycle community, Iron Pony Motorsports’ journey is a testament to the enduring vision of its founders and their commitment to the spirit of motorcycling.
Pony Powersports® operates four locations in Ohio:
These locations offer a range of powersports vehicles, parts, apparel, and services.
- Pony Powersports Columbus: Located adjacent to the Westerville superstore, this dealership provides a wide selection of vehicles and operates seven days a week.
- Pony Powersports Mansfield: Also known as Iron Pony Express, this sister location is an authorized dealer for Benelli, Hisun, Honda, Kawasaki, Kayo, KTM, Polaris, SSR, and Suzuki, offering the same quality selection and service.
- Pony Powersports Lancaster-Carroll: This dealership is an authorized dealer for Argo, Hisun, Kayo, Lifan, Massimo, Piranha, PitsterPro, Vanderhall, and YCF, providing a diverse range of vehicles and services.
- Pony Powersports Jackson: The newest addition to the group, this location is an authorized dealer for Can-Am, CF-Moto, Honda, Kayo, and Suzuki, upholding the company’s commitment to quality selection and service.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, I found myself in Thailand, Ukraine, and Vietnam, and I spent my evenings writing a blog for the AGVSPORT website. Rather than produce typical blog articles, I drew from a reservoir of unique experiences and encounters accumulated over many years in the motorcycle sport and industry.
I penned a series of articles about Niki Lauda’s missing AGV X1 Air system, which vanished in December 1987 and resurfaced only in April 2025. I also detailed a lengthy journey to the Lauda Air Boeing 767 crash site, located atop a mountain in Thailand’s Phu Toei National Park. Inspired, I decided to chronicle the lives of some of the more fascinating individuals I’ve met, particularly during the early years of AGVSPORT. Names like Jim Hale (AXO/Mechanix), Jeff Fox (LeMans Corporation/Parts Unlimited), Keith Code (California Superbike School), and Chris and Tammy Jones (Irony Pony) quickly came to mind.
After several years distributing through regional channels, AGV Helmets launched their dealer-direct distribution in January 1987. One of the first tasks was assembling a national road rep sales team. Within months, we enlisted about 15 representatives nationwide, including stars like Phil Amendolia, who would become the national sales manager at Fox and later lead LS2 helmets in the US, and top sales reps Steve Dickinson and Mike Ego for Parts Unlimited. Chris and Tammy Jones expanded the small Iron Pony accessory store into a significant enterprise.
In spring 1987, Chris and Tammy drove to the AGV Helmets headquarters in Maryland for a product introduction and to collect samples. I vividly remember loading their car’s back seat and trunk with helmet samples, never imagining the vast business they would eventually build.
Writing this article posed challenges, particularly gathering details about Tammy’s significant yet undocumented role. In contrast, I could easily fill a book with anecdotes from my extensive discussions with Chris. Fortunately, insights from their son Derek and long-time employee Alan Schatz proved invaluable.
Before I began researching this article last summer, I had never met Derek Jones before.
In the months to follow, we had several hours of long conversations, and in addition to discussing his parents and the history of Iron Pony, we talked a lot about motorcycles, something I never really did with Chris.
Derek himself is a huge motorcycle enthusiast and owns quite a few bikes, both road and off road, and is an avid rider.
As someone who is an enthusiastic motorcyclist in an industry in which fewer and fewer people are active riders, this was a very pleasant discovery, showing that a key person at such a mammoth dealership loves motorcycles.
Derek is a bit different from me in one respect: he also loves working on motorcycles, tinkering with them, and building things. I got burned out on all of that during my early years of racing, and my love for motorcycles involves riding them and having adventures with them, but not so much the mechanical side.
Contrary to what one might expect, Chris and I connect less over motorcycling and more over shared intellectual pursuits. Despite my lifelong passion for motorcycles and owning several in various countries, our conversations rarely touched on riding. Chris’s focus has always been on the business aspects—building operations, managing finances, negotiating deals, and scaling a multimillion-dollar enterprise.
Our bond stems from our shared high IQ and exceptional memory—traits not always signified by academic credentials but demonstrated through practical intelligence and common sense, often stifled by modern educational systems. Moreover, Chris’s keen observational skills and analytical prowess enable him to interpret and react to situations astutely.
